Apparently, Bella's "first dream" is supposed to do alot toward trying to convince us that Bella is obsessed with Edward - but again, she describes the dream very dryly and doesn't say hardly anything about her feelings or reactions to it.
I wondered to myself why no one else had seen him standing so far away, before he was suddenly, impossibly saving my life. With chagrin, I realized the probably cause - no one else was as aware of Edward as I always was. No one else watched him the way I did. How pitiful. ...People avoided him, as usual. This point flat-out does not seem feasible. Bella has done nothing but describe the Cullens as sticking out like sore thumbs, and they are VERY AWARE that they stick out. IF they really are as spectacularly amazingly beautiful as they are - AND girls like Jessica are a little miffed at Edward for brushing them off - SOMEONE in that parking lot WOULD have been paying attention to his presence other than Bella. PLUS, if Bella is such an attention magnet still; the people keeping an eye on HER probably would have been following her gaze to see who she was looking at (Edward) just before the accident happened.
I paused for a moment, hating the wave of guilt that swept through me. But I saw, from the corner of my eye, Edward's head tilt reflexively in my direction. Bella is sitting next to Edward in Biology class with her head turned toward Mike in conversation. Her head is turned AWAY from Edward NOT looking straight ahead - he is NOT within her peripheral vision for her to make this observation.
"Sorry, no," I said. "So you shouldn't make Jess wait any longer - it's rude." First, again - this sounds like a 30-something woman correcting a teenager; and second - again, this is not something a SHY person would say.
Ok, we're starting to get a little more impression that Edward is having a physical effect on Bella. There was no question of me looking away. My hands started to shake. But here again, Bella does not go into any kind of descriptions about her responses to Edward - THIS is all she says about it. These are PERFECT opportunities to insert/describe bits and pieces of Bella's personality. WHERE are they?! I'm really starting to feel like Bella is really just an empty shell - so far, very disappointing.
I almost had a stroke when I rounded the corner and saw a tall, dark figure leaning against the side of my truck Then I realized it was just Eric. I started walking again. Bella is just walking out of school toward her truck again - it's DAYLIGHT and she "almost has a stroke"?! There is so setup for this exaggerated reaction.
"No - I don't dance, Dad." He, of all people, should understand that - I didn't get my balance problems from my mother. I am having a hard time believing that CHARLIE - the outdoorsman, fishing pole & gun loving, COP is the family klutz. By the way Bella describes her own inability to balance, he would be COVERED in fishing hook scars and probably have shot himself in the foot a couple of times by now, ha! I can believe her ditzy mom could be a klutz, but not Charlie, sorry.
"Do you have a multiple personality disorder?" I asked severely. Again, this is not something a shy person would probably say UNLESS they are really really furious... And I get that Bella is supposed to be mad; but every time she is mad, she seems to be WAY over the top - like she has anger issues, or something. The read is getting better, however... THAT's a relief. :)
A change of pace - KUDOS for Stephenie Meyer starting to get things across in her writing that are other than irritating, ha! This is the BEST written exchange I've seen her write between Bella and Edward, yet - at the VERY END of Chapter 4 (keeping in mind that Bella is supposed to be obsessed by Edward at this point, and so far I've been unconvinced). But, STILL - even though things seem to be improving and getting better; even THIS exchange could/should have been expounded on a bit more with regards to "what is happening inside Bella". I'm still feeling a little left out - and again, she's missing opportunities to expand on Bella (and Edward's in the case, too) PERSONALITIES.
If you haven't read "Midnight Sun", Stephenie goes into ALOT more detail about what is going on in Edward's mind during all this time. And now that I think about it, THAT may very well be one of the reason why I can see more in this scene than maybe is written here. It may very well actually be more hollow than I'm reading it as. Here's the exchange:
"It would be more... prudent for you not to be my friend," he explained. "But I'm tired of trying to stay away from you, Bella."
His eyes were gloriously intense as he uttered that last sentence, his voice smoldering. I couldn't remember how to breathe.
"Will you go with me to Seattle?" he asked, still intense.
I couldn't speak yet, so I just nodded.
He smiled briefly, and then his face became serious.
"You really should stay away from me," he warned. "I'll see you in class."
He turned abruptly and walked back the way we'd come.
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